Novelty Shot Beverage Container

ABSTRACT

A novelty shot beverage container includes an inner container having a first and second openings in fluid communication with a compartment for containing a shot beverage, an outer shell having a novelty shape and configured for securely encasing and holding the inner container. The outer shell also having a first opening in general alignment and coincident with the first opening of the inner container, and a second opening in general alignment and coincident with the second opening of the inner container. The beverage container further includes a clip coupled to the outer shell for attaching the novelty shot beverage container to another item.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a beverage container, and in particular, to a novelty shot beverage container.

BACKGROUND

Traditionally, a shooter or shot is a small serving of alcoholic spirits or mixed drink typically consumed quickly. Shooters can be shaken, stirred, blended, layered, or simply poured, and are typically served in shot glasses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-4 are various views of a preferred embodiment of a novelty shot beverage container according to the teachings of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of a novelty shot beverage container according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to a novelty or promotional item for containing a beverage of about one to two ounces of liquid. The novelty shot beverage container described and shown herein serves the function of an unbreakable shot glass for serving alcoholic liquors and spirits.

As shown in FIGS. 1-5 , the novelty shot beverage container 10 includes an ornamental outer shell 12 that preferably has a first shell portion 14 and a second shell portion 16 that fasten together to form a shot beverage container having a novelty shape, such as the shape of a football or another sports item. The two shell portions 14 and 16 may each comprise half of the ornamental outer shell 12, such as upper and lower shell portions. In the example embodiment shown herein, the ornamental outer shell 12 is configured as a football, having the same general overall shape and appearance of a football. For example, the ornamental outer shell 12 may include lacing 18, seams, surface texture, and other surface details to mimic a football. Additional details may include team names, mascots, and colors that are imprinted or otherwise adhered onto the ornamental outer shell. It is contemplated that an alternate embodiment of the ornamental outer shell may be spherical shaped and may include ornamental elements of other items such as baseball, basketball, soccer ball, golf ball, tennis ball, etc. The ornamental outer shell may also be shaped to mimic other items such as, for example, hockey puck, baseball glove, and badminton shuttlecock. The ornamental outer shell 12 may alternatively have a configuration corresponding to other types of novelty items for suitable promotional and retail purposes.

The ornamental outer shell 12 may optionally include a side flat surface 24 and a bottom flat surface 25. The side flat surface 24 may be utilized to receive a label or sticker (not shown) bearing the image of a football team logo, trademark, mascot, or other advertising graphics. The label has an adhesive backing that enables it to be secured to the outer shell 12. The flat bottom surface 25 enables the shot beverage container 10 to rest on a flat level surface without rolling around. A clip or hook 26 is coupled to a side surface of the ornamental outer shell 12 via a through hole 28. The clip 26 includes a conical anchor or peg 29 that may be inserted into the through hole 28 to secure the clip 26 to the ornamental outer shell 12. The clip 26 may be used to fasten the shot beverage container 10 to a belt, belt loop, purse strap, etc. to free up the user's hands. The clip 26 may also be used to fasten the shot beverage container 10 to a display apparatus or device at a retail or point-of sale venue, such as a sports stadium, bar, or souvenir shop. Although the clip 26 is described and shown as a separately fabricated component that is then assembled and secured to the outer shell 12, the clip 26 may be integrally constructed as part of the outer shell 12 in an alternate embodiment.

Two openings 20 and 22 are defined in the ornamental outer shell 12. A larger circular opening 20 is positioned in an upper forward location on the upper half of the outer shell 14. This opening 20 in the upper portion of the outer shell 12 is designed to enable a beverage to be poured or otherwise fill an inner container 30 encased and held within the ornamental outer shell 12. The upper opening 20 of the outer shell 12 is in general alignment and coincident with a larger opening 34 of the inner beverage container 30 that enables the beverage to be added to the compartment 32 of the inner container 30. The second and smaller opening 22 defined in the ornamental outer shell 12 is located at a forward tip of the football-shaped outer shell 14 and is in alignment and coincident with the secondary opening 36 of the inner container 30. This is the opening that can be used by the user to drink the beverage by placing their mouth over this opening 22 and tilting the shot beverage container 10 forward to enable the beverage to flow from the compartment 32 of the inner container 30 to a secondary opening 36 of the inner container 30. Because of the elongated shape of the football-shaped outer shell 14, the secondary opening 36 is connected to the compartment 32 via an elongated neck portion 38 defining a fluid passageway.

The two shell portions 14 and 16 may be fastened together by any suitable mechanism. For example as shown in the exploded view in FIG. 5 , a plurality of circular pegs 40 are disposed along the rim of the lower shell portion 16 that are in alignment with a plurality of circular holes (not explicitly shown) disposed along the rim of the upper shell portion 14. The pegs and corresponding holes are sized so that they may be press-fitted together to keep the two portions of the outer shell 12 together. The interior of the ornamental outer shell portions 14 and 16 may be contoured to securely enclose, hold, and properly orient the inner beverage container within the outer shell 12. When the shot beverage container 10 is placed on a level plane resting on its bottom flat surface 25, the beverage liquid remains contained within the inner container 30.

The ornamental outer shell 12 and the inner container 30 may be fabricated from any suitable material such as plastic. The ornamental outer shell 12 and inner beverage container are preferably structurally rigid or semi-rigid to substantially retain their respective shapes.

It is further contemplated that the ornamental outer shell 12 may include a display that presents animated or moving images (with or without audio), such as a display screen located on the side flat surface 24 using a suitable technology now known or to be developed such as LCD, LED, OLED, QLED, QD-OLED, etc. The display may be used to present static and/or dynamic images, that may be accompanied with audio data.

Although not limited to these outside dimensions, an example embodiment of the football-style ornamental outer shell may be about 5.60 inches in length, 3.30 inches in width, and 3.4 inches in height.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth below with particularity in the appended claims. However, modifications, variations, and changes to the exemplary embodiments of the shot beverage container described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the innovations described herein thus encompasses such modifications, variations, and changes and are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A novelty shot beverage container comprising: an inner container having first and second openings in fluid communication with a compartment for containing a shot beverage; an outer shell configured for securely encasing and holding the inner container, the outer shell also having a first opening in general alignment and size coincident with the first opening of the inner container, and the outer shell further having a second opening in general alignment and size coincident with the second opening of the inner container; and the outer shell further including a clip.
 2. The novelty shot beverage container of claim 1, wherein the first opening defined in the outer shell is disposed in an upper portion of the outer shell.
 3. The novelty shot beverage container of claim 1, wherein the first and second openings defined in the outer shell is substantially identical in size as the first and second openings of the inner container, respectively.
 4. The novelty shot beverage container of claim 1, wherein the outer shell comprises: a top shell portion defining the first opening located in an upward facing orientation; and a bottom shell portion configured to be securely fastened to the top shell portion to define an inner chamber for securely encasing and holding the inner container, the bottom shell portion further including a bottom flat surface.
 5. The novelty shot beverage container of claim 1, wherein the outer shell comprises a dedicated surface for displaying a promotional image composed of at least one of a logo, trademark, slogan, and mascot.
 6. The novelty shot beverage container of claim 1, wherein the outer shell comprises a shape and configuration corresponding to an item associated with a sport.
 7. The novelty shot beverage container of claim 1, wherein the outer shell comprises a shape and configuration corresponding to a sport item selected from the group consisting of football, baseball, basketball, soccer ball, golf ball, tennis ball, hockey puck, baseball glove, and badminton shuttlecock.
 8. A novelty beverage container comprising: an inner container having a first and second openings in fluid communication with a compartment for containing a beverage; an outer shell configured for encasing and holding the inner container, the outer shell also having a first opening in general alignment and size coincident with the first opening of the inner container, and the outer shell further having a second opening in general alignment and size coincident with the second opening of the inner container; the outer shell further including a clip; and wherein the outer shell comprises a novelty shape and configuration corresponding to a sports item.
 9. The novelty beverage container of claim 8, wherein the first opening defined in the outer shell is disposed in an upper portion of the outer shell.
 10. The novelty beverage container of claim 8, wherein the first and second openings defined in the outer shell is substantially identical in size as the first and second openings of the inner container, respectively.
 11. The novelty beverage container of claim 8, wherein the outer shell comprises a bottom flat surface.
 12. The novelty beverage container of claim 8, wherein the outer shell comprises a dedicated surface for displaying at least one of a logo, trademark, slogan, and mascot.
 13. The novelty beverage container of claim 8, wherein the outer shell comprises a dedicated flat surface for displaying a promotional image.
 14. The novelty beverage container of claim 8, wherein the outer shell comprises a shape and configuration corresponding to a sport item selected from the group consisting of football, baseball, basketball, soccer ball, golf ball, tennis ball, hockey puck, baseball glove, and badminton shuttlecock.
 15. A novelty shot beverage container comprising: an inner container having a first and second openings in fluid communication with a compartment for containing a shot beverage; an outer shell having a novelty shape and configured for securely encasing and holding the inner container, the outer shell also having a first opening in general alignment and coincident with the first opening of the inner container, and the outer shell further having a second opening in general alignment and coincident with the second opening of the inner container; and a clip coupled to the outer shell and configured for attaching the novelty shot beverage container to another item.
 16. The novelty shot beverage container of claim 15, wherein the first opening defined in the outer shell is disposed in an upper portion of the outer shell and configured for receiving the shot beverage for filling the compartment of the inner container.
 17. The novelty shot beverage container of claim 15, wherein the outer shell comprises a bottom flat surface.
 18. The novelty shot beverage container of claim 15, wherein the outer shell comprises a dedicated surface for displaying at least one of a logo, trademark, slogan, and mascot.
 19. The novelty shot beverage container of claim 15, wherein the outer shell comprises a shape and configuration corresponding to a sport item selected from the group consisting of football, baseball, basketball, soccer ball, golf ball, tennis ball, hockey puck, baseball glove, and badminton shuttlecock.
 20. The novelty shot beverage container of claim 15, wherein the outer shell comprises: a top shell portion defining the first opening located in an upward facing orientation; and a bottom shell portion configured to be securely fastened to the top shell portion to define an inner chamber for securely encasing and holding the inner container, the bottom shell portion further including a bottom flat surface. 